The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

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Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Vatican City, 28 April 2015 (VIS) -
Shortly after 9 a.m. this morning in the Casina Pio IV, seat of the
Pontifical Academy of Sciences, the Holy Father briefly met with the
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon, present at the Academy
for the subsequent opening presentation of the international workshop
“Protect the Earth, dignify humanity. The moral dimensions of
climate change and sustainable development”.

During the private audience the
secretary of the United Nations, as he explained in the following
press conference, expressed to the Pope his gratitude for having
agreed to address the Assembly of the United Nations this coming 25
September and remarked that he was looking forward to the Holy
Father’s discourse on the occasion and to his forthcoming
encyclical. He also illustrated various aspects of the United
Nations’ current commitment not only to environmental issues, but
also to migrants and the dramatic humanitarian situations in the
areas of the world affected by conflicts.

Vatican City, 28 April 2015 (VIS) –
Following the earthquake that struck the territory of Nepal with
extraordinary vehemence last weekend, the Pontifical Council “Cor
Unum” has undertaken to send a first contribution of 100 thousand
dollars for aid to the population on behalf of the Holy Father.

This sum, which will be sent to the
local Church, will be used to support aid operations for the
displaced and other affected persons, and is intended as a first and
immediate concrete expression of Pope Francis' “spiritual closeness
and paternal encouragement” towards those afflicted, as he assured
during the Regina Coeli of Sunday 26 April. Episcopal conferences and
Catholic charitable entities are already extensively involved in
humanitarian works.

According to the data currently
available but not yet definitive, there have been more than 4,300
victims so far and approximately 7 million affected in 34 districts
of Nepal, a million homeless, and around 2 million children in need
of assistance. Numerous villages are isolated and aid has not yet
reached them. The government has estimated that roughly 400 thousand
buildings have been destroyed.

- Rev. Fr. Edward Mapunda as bishop of
Singida (area 49,341, population 1,500,000, Catholics 238,307,
priests 67, religious 437), Tanzania. The bishop-elect was born in
Mango, Tanzania in 1964, and was ordained a priest in 1997. He holds
a Master's degree in education from the University of Dar-es-Salaam,
Tanzania and has served as formator and subsequently vice-rector of
the minor seminary of Singida. He is currently bursar and diocesan
delegate for health.

- Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, prefect
of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, as president of
the Commission for Lawyers.